Where: San Pedro Grand Prix
When: Sunday, June 20, 2010
Race: Cat 5
Who Raced: Jon Hippensteel, Mike Myles
Results: Jon Hippensteel- 6th, Mike Myles- 12th
Mike Myles and I were the sole representatives for the Men's Team NOW-MS Society at the San Pedro Grand Prix today. We're both getting closer to upgrading to Cat 4--Mike has seven Cat 5 races under his belt and I have nine--and looking forward to riding with all the Cat 4 guys soon. To give you quick feel for the course, Mike rode over to my car after riding a few warm-up laps and said, "If I had seen this course before I registered, I probably wouldn't have signed up; you might want to ride a few laps before we start." Oh great, it's that good, I thought, haha. I put my trainer away and headed out onto the course. It was a 1.1 mile, cigar-shaped track with about 75 feet of climbing per lap. The front straightaway with the finish line was nice and flat, though uphill, but after the first U-turn, the road got really ugly with a slight uphill dog-leg and then a descent into the hairpin at the other end.
The first 30- 35 minutes of the 40 minute race were pretty uneventful with a few failed breakaway attempts in the field of just under 30 riders. Mike and I were both feeling pretty strong and were able to maintain positions in the front 1/3 of the pack for most of the race. As we came across the line with one lap to go, I'd positioned myself in fourth in the pace-line as we went into the 180 degree turn before the back stretch. And thankfully so as I hear the all too familiar sound of bikes and bodies flying. I glance back briefly, hoping that Mike made it out alive, but keep my attention focused ahead as a one-man breakaway takes off. We let him go but then I pick up the pace over the crest of the hill and head into the final turn in second position. I'm pumping as hard as i can and gaining on the rider out in front as we charge up the 600-meter stretch to the finish. With about 250 meters to go, I notice the shadow of another rider (actually several riders) just inches behind my wheel and realize to my chagrin, that I just gave them one incredibly epic lead-out! Wish that had been you, Mike! I managed to salvage 6th place but my legs felt like they literally exploded once I was across the line. Fortunately, Mike was able to avoid the crash, and despite that, he pulled off a respectable 12th place.
That's it for now. Look forward to seeing everyone again soon now that I'm back from New Zealand!
Cheers,
Jon Hipp
Jonathan D Hippensteel
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